My heart breaks for Tolkien's Denethor, whose life ended unnecessarily, as bitterness, anger, and hopelessness in the face of evil consumed him. Let our prayer be that, even as we observe the darkness at the doorstep of Western Civilization, we imaginative conservatives stand at our posts and look to the Heavenly Father as our protector. [...]
Christopher Dawson’s work is a kaleidoscopic treatment of a dizzying amount of Western history. Throughout, he looks at everything from the giant, even “theocratic” and “unitary” states such as Charlemagne’s empire, to the smaller “petty states of France and the Low Countries in the eleventh and twelfth centuries.” While he is objective about the goods [...]
There was a missing element in the Secretary of State’s speech. Something essential was missing, something that needed to be highlighted if these calls to heroism and excellence were to be heeded. This same lacuna is found in much of the nationalist literature that seeks to revitalize Western values. On October 7, Secretary of State [...]
My greatest concern as a teacher for more than thirty years was my students’ inability or unwillingness to read. I repeatedly tried, and repeatedly failed, to persuade them that when they read, they were not merely absorbing information, but were also, and more importantly, rehearsing acts of imagination. I. “Bisogna saper leggere,” Jakob Burckhardt told [...]
"The classical understanding of liberal arts as aimed at educating the free human being is displaced by emphasis upon the arts of the private person," writes Patrick Deneen. "An education fitting for a 'res publica' is replaced with an education suited for a 'res idiotica'—in the Greek, a 'private' and isolated person." Dear TIC Reader: [...]
Though several scholars have considered J.R.R. Tolkien’s Catholicism, none of them have looked specifically at Tolkien’s understanding of liturgy and how that liturgy shaped not only Tolkien’s soul but his very art. At last, Ben Reinhard has done so in his brilliant book, "The High Hallow." The High Hallow: Tolkien’s Liturgical Imagination, by Ben Reinhard (184 [...]
If we are to be truly inclusive and truly representative, we need to hone in on what it is to be truly human. What is it that unites all people across all races, all generations, and all classes at all times? The Great Books of Western Civilization are not merely artifacts to be respected and [...]
Not only do democracies invade every aspect of life and politicize them, they always and everywhere—from Athens to America—serve as an impetus to imperialism. If the will of the majority is to rule at home, why not enforce such rule the world over? John Adams & Benjamin Franklin “Remember Democracy never lasts long. [...]
As one of the greatest bridges from the ancient world to the medieval, St. Augustine of Hippo’s "Confessions" illuminates the path forward through the gloom of the modern world. And C.C. Pecknold's new book, "Fire on the Altar" is a wonderful guide to this masterpiece. Fire on the Altar: Setting Our Souls Ablaze through St. [...]
Joseph Pearce Interviews Iranian Composer Farhad Poupel Farhad Poupel Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in [...]
In the modern world, love is often ignored or perverted into lust. When we talk of governance, when we talk of relationships, when we talk of societal structures, we never mention love. What happened? How could the modern West be so very different from the ancient and medieval West? One of my greatest joys in [...]
We can trace the desire to understand the universal quality and dignity of the human person as far back as our very origin as a Western people. As I get older, I’m terribly troubled by the move—going on since rise of the New Left and, especially, the Maoists who introduced us to Political Correctness in [...]
If we wish to avoid the culture of death, we need to heed the words of the wisest. We need to use their wisdom to demolish those philosophies which are built on the shifting sands of falsehood. We need to invite Socrates, Plato and Aristotle into our classrooms and into our lives and our libraries. [...]
Why should an adult take time out of his busy schedule to learn classical languages? Latin and ancient Greek unlock the cultural heritage of the West. When it comes to ancient languages, many people seem to believe that there is an incredibly small window of opportunity for learning. I encounter this belief frequently, since I [...]